Tubular router



May 13, 1952 R. E. RICHARDS TUBULAR ROUTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1949 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. Rucvmaos May 13, 1952 R. E. RICHARDS TUBULAR ROUTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1949 May 13, 5 R. E. RICHARDS 7 TUBULAR ROUTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14, 1949 IZZ s v 84 82 I84 I56 as I I I62 I l 44 l4 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. RICHARDS Patented May 13, 1952 Robert to? I h iiai tnership Riiiariis,fKalama-zoo,'iVIih., assign'or A; mh'ards Company, Kalamazoo, Mich,

in .do'ingithe'work audit also makes it"po'ssibi'e to "recover thetmetalr'oiitedout from the plate.

Other and further obj'ets of theinventionwill be apparentfrom the "following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying iirawingshf which therearethree sheets, which "by "way of illustration show a pre- 'ferred embodiment "and "the principles "thereof ahH'what I' now consider 1 to Lbe the best mode .in whih I have contemplated ap lying those prineipies. "other.embodimentsofthe invention embodying the same .or equivalent principles may Lbe'used and structural ehange's'may be made as desiredby those-skilled in theait without fdeparting from theipresent 'inve 'tion and the'pu'rview of the appended 'laim's.

in the drawings:

Fig. "1 is :a side elevational viewgpartly broken away, of amaehine embodying the invention;

2 is a fragmentary side .elevational view with'p'ai ts broken away or 'the 'oppos'itetside of the machine;

"Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view :of "the machine with parts broken away;

Fig. A is arsetio'nal view. taken generally along the lines '4-4 of "Fig. 3, looking *in the "direction ofthe arrows; and v Fig. '5 is a sectional view taken "along the line '5-5 of Fig. A.

'As illustrated in the embodiment of the invention selected iior "purposes of illustration, 'a

routing machine comprises in "general "a housin 11! defining a work chamber 12 which is closed at the-side's and open at the "top. The housing includes 'a hingeditransparent-"panel :4 "at the front "and :alhingedpanel .or door 16 at the side. Work supporting means in the i'form "of ta rotary drum lflis arrangedin theehamberiandafiapted to"hold a curved "or 'tubular'pl'ate 20 on which routing is to be done.

'Motor supporting means in the form "of'horizontal guides 22 extend'a'lo'n'g the baok'ofand 'above'the chamber and'parallel tothe'drum 18. A motor uniti'ndicated generally "at "24,-ish--sup= ported bys'aid guidesabovethe chamber [2 and the drum f8 and formoveme'nt lengthwise-of'the drum. The 'unit '24 includes an electric "motor zthav'in'g afirive shaft 28 depending into the hamber "l2in'clo's'e'proximity to the topof the drum 1%. A routing to'ol' indicated generauyat 3iiis"detachably"securedto the lower-"end of-the drive shaft 18 -and is "operable upon rotation of the drive shaft "'for routing the *platecarriedby the drum IS. The motor unit 24 is vertically "adjustable relative to-the guides 22, as-will be described'in detail hereinafter, and a treadle extends aiongthe frontpf themaehine forraising andlowerin'g themotor unit and the tool 30 relative'to the drum H3.

The housing 10' at its'lower end forms-a' hopper 34 which 'is in communication with the iower end'df the chamber l2 for-receiving cuttings irom the plat-e20 and "collecting such cuttings which may be removed through the opening "'36 normally close'd'by theel'eanout door 38.

"The drum l8 isprovided with 'a'stationary dog 40 anda'movable locking'dogdz between and by which'the plate 20 'isclampe'd'on the drum I'S. 'The'mov'able locking dog '42 is carriedby the threaded-shaft and is adjustedby the knurled wheelflfi. The'drumflil is-mounted on-theshait 48 which is journalledinbearings 50 and 52,-the 'beaiingiifl being carried "b'yan arm54 supportedon a'bracketfit within'the chamber |'2, while the bearing 52 is supported in a bearing block '58 mounted exteriorly of the chamber l2. 'The'sha'ft 48has a wormwheeliifl affixedthereto for "rotation therewith and arranged-ina-chamber 62. A "hand wheelfi l is also connected with theshaft "48*soFthat'by turning the hand wheel the drum -t8willturn therewith. "Inf-this mannerthe plate may be'turned relative to'the routing tool 3'0.

The front of the chamber is closed by- -the hinged-transparent panel 14 through which the plate '20 is "clearly visible. The panel 14, "however, may'beswungaboutitshinge BB in-a' clockwise direction (Fig. 4) so astoopenthefrorit-df the chamber "when desired. "The'pan'el or door [6 is hinged at 68 to swingoutwardlyandprovide an opening atone end of the Chamber l Z'through which the tubular plate maybe inserted into "the chamber ['2 and arranged on the drum and removed-therefrom.

Asshown in Fig. 1 there is provided a worm WU-journsilled in- 'a bearihg blook 12 which-is piv- "otally mounted at 14 in a "bifurcated extension I6 of the cover I8 for the chamber 62. A hand wheel 89 is affixed to the shaft 82 on which the worm is secured so that the worm I will turn upon rotation of the hand wheel 89. The teeth of the worm I0 mesh with the teeth of the worm wheel 60 for turning the wheel 60 and thereby the shaft 48 and the drum I8, but at a relatively low rate of speed as compared with the speed with which the drum I 8 may be turned by means of the hand wheel 64.

A lever 84 pivoted at 86 is provided with a slot which engages a pin 88 on the bearing block I2 for holding the teeth of the worm I9 in mesh with the teeth of the gear 60. By swinging the handle of the lever 84 in a counterclockwise direction so as to disengage the lever 84 from the pin 88, a spring 99 confined in a recessinthebearing block 58 and the bearing block I2 will bias the bearing block I2 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot so as to separate the teeth of the worm 19 from the teeth of the gear 60 at which time the hand wheel 64 may be turned so as to turn the drum at a relatively fast rate of speed as compared with that which may be obtained by turning of the hand wheel 89 when the teeth of the worm wheel 19 are engaged with the teeth of the gear 60. Obviously, the hand wheels 89 and 64 may be turned in either direction. With the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the teeth of the worm I9 meshing with the teeth of the gear 69 lock the drum I8 against rotation. The pin 9| limits the counterclockwise pivoting of the lever 84.

The guides 22 may comprise round bars which are secured in standards 92 which project upwardly from the housing I0 at the sides thereof. A screw or worm 94 is journalled in bearings 96 carried by the standards 92 and a hand wheel 98 is arranged for turning the worm 94. The hand wheel 98 is mounted on a shaft I99 mounted in bearings I92 in a housing I04 carried by one of the standards 92. The shaft I09 has a bevel gear I06 thereon, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the bevel gear I08 which is carried by a shaft extension H0 of the worm 94 which projects beyond the standard 92. The hand wheel 98 and the other hand wheels may be provided with a handle, such as H2. The worm Wheel 94 may be turned in either direction by the hand wheel 98 and forms a means for moving the motor unit 24 lengthwise of the guides 22.

The guides 22 extend through bearings mounted in a bracket H4 so that the bracket H4 is freely slidable along the guides 22 from one end thereof to the other. The worm 94 extends freely through an opening in the bracket H4. A dog or tooth H'6 slidably arranged in a housing H8 connected with the bracket H4 is engageable with the teeth of the worm 94 so that upon rotation of the worm 94 the tooth H6 will travel along the thread of the worm 94 and shift the bracket H4 lengthwise of the guides 22. The tooth H6 is shown in Fig. 4 separated from the thread of the worm 94 which permits the bracket I I4 to be shifted freely along the guides 22 without rotation of the worm 94. A spring I29 reacting against the tooth H6 biases the same into engagement with the thread of the worm 94. However, as shown in Fig. 4, it is held in its disengaged position by means of a lever I 22 pivoted at I24 to an arm I26 on the bracket I I4.

The upper end of the lever I22 has connected to it a link I 28 having a shoulder I39 and a handle I32. The shoulder I30 is engageable with a shoulder on the bifurcated guide I 34 for holding the tooth H6 separated from the thread of the worm 94. By lifting the handle I32 slightly, the shoulder I30 may be disengaged from the shoulder on the bifurcated guide I34, in which event the spring I29 will cause the tooth H6 to reengage the thread of the worm 94, in which event rotation of the worm 94 by means of the hand wheel 98 will cause the bracket I I 4 to travel in one direction or the other along the guides 22, depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel 98. When the Worm 94 is stationary and the tooth H6 is engaged therewith, the bracket I I4 is locked against movement relative to the guides 22. The bracket H4 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally extending arms I36 and I38. These arms carry a pair of vertical guides I49 which are stationary.

The motor unit 24 includes a sleeve or ring I42 having arms I44 provided with bearings I48 through which the vertical guides or rods I40 extend, whereby the motor unit 24 is guided for vertical movement by the guides I49 between th arms I36 and'I38 of the bracket II4.,

A threaded shaft I50 extends freely through aligned openings in the arms I 36 and I38 and its lower end rests upon a bar I52. The threaded portion of the shaft I50 is threaded through an opening in the sleeve I42. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a hand wheel I54. By turning the hand wheel I54 the threaded conneotion between the shaft I59 and the sleeve I42 will raise or lower the ring I42, causing the same to slide upwardly or downwardly on the guides I49. The bar or rod I52 extends parallel to the guides 22 and between the standards 92 and is carried by levers I 56, each of which is pivoted at I58 to a standard 92.

Another bar I69 connects the other ends of the levers I56, and a cable I62 is connected to the center of the bar I69 and extends down over an idler pulley I64 and is connected to the treadle 32, the side arms of which are pivoted at I66 to the base of the housing I0. The weight of the motor unit 24 is carried by the threaded shaft I50, which in turn is supported by the bar I52. A suitable means (not shown) may be provided for limiting the downward movement of the ,bar I 52. By stepping on the treadle 32, the operator of the machine may cause the bar I52 to move upwardly, thereby elevating the motor unit 24 and the tool 30 away from the plate 20.

A thumb screw I19 carried by the sleeve I42 is engageable with the shaft I50 for locking the shaft I59 against rotation. The motor unit 24 is provided with a handle In so that when the tooth H6 is in its released position, as shown in Fig. 4, the operator may freely slide the motor unit 24 lengthwise of the guides 22.

The motor 26 includes a casing in which the field I16 and the armature I18 are arranged, the armature shaft being supported in suitable bearings I and I82, and the shaft 28 of the motor projects downwardly into the chamber I2.where the routing tool 30 is detachably secured thereto by any conventional means. The casing of the motor is provided with a series of air outlets I84 disposed around the bearing I82, and a seriesof air inlets I86 spaced around the upper bearing I89. Fig. 4 shows only one of the inlets since the section line is taken through one of the arms of the spider which supports the bearing I89. A filter I99 extends acrossand covers the openings I86.

The interior of the motor casing provides air circulating passages over the field and armature of the motor so that air may be circulated through the motor casing and discharged downwardly through the outlets I84 in order to dissipate the motor heat.

In order to effect the circulation of air downwardly through the motor casing and downwardly from the outlets [84,a fan I92 is carried by the armature shaft and is arranged to draw air downwardly through the casing and to discharge it through the outlets I84. The motor 25 is a high speed motor and may operate at speeds of 14,000 R. P. M. and over, and the fan I92 is arranged to deliver a sufficient amount of air through the outlets I84 so as to discharge an air blast on the plate 20 around the routing tool 30 in order to dislodge the metal routed out of the plate by the tool 30 and cause such metal to be removed from the plate 20. The metal removed from the plate 20 falls through the chamber I2 into the hopper 34, where it is collected and from which it may be removed from time to time through the opening 36 previously described. L

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A router comprising a housing defining a Work chamber, a rotary drum arranged in said chamber and adapted to hold a curved plate on which routing is to be done, horizontal guides above said chamber and parallel to said drum, a bracket slidably mounted on said guides, a motor unit supported by said bracket for movement therewith lengthwise of said drum and having a routing tool depending therefrom, a worm arranged parallel to said guides and extending freely through said bracket, means for rotating said worm, tooth means movably mounted on said bracket and spring means biasing said tooth means into engagement with said worm so that said bracket and motor unit will move along said guides upon rotation of said worm, a lever pivoted on said bracket and connected to said tooth means and operable for moving said tooth means out of engagement with said worm so as to permit free shifting of said bracket and motor unit along said guides independently of rotation of said worm, means on said bracket cooperable with said lever for holding said tooth means out of engagement with said worm, a shaft rotatable with said drum, a worm wheel on said shaft, a worm engageable with said worm wheel, means for rotating said Worm so as to rotate said shaft and drum, means for disengaging said worm from said worm wheel so as to permit rotation of said drum independently of rotation of said worm, and a hand wheel on said shaft for rotating said drum independently of said worm.

2. A router according to claim 1 wherein said motor unit includes a vertically arranged shaft secured thereto, said shaft being arranged for vertical movement relative to said bracket, and a lever engageable with said shaft and operable for moving said shaft and motor unit vertically relative to said drum, and a treadle connected to said lever for operating the same.

3. A router comprising a housing defining a Work chamber, a rotary drum arranged in said chamber and adapted to hold a curved plate on Which routing is to be done, horizontal guides above said chamber and parallel to said drum, a bracket slidably mounted on said guides, a motor unit supported by said bracket for movement therewith lengthwise of said drum and having a routing tool depending therefrom, a worm arranged parallel to said guides and extending freely through said bracket, means for rotating said Worm, a tooth mounted on said bracket for movement therewith axially of said worm and movable relative to said bracket into and out of engagement with said worm, spring means for biasing said tooth into engagement with said worm so that said bracket and motor unit will move along said guides upon rotation of said Worm, a lever pivoted on said bracket and connected to said tooth for moving said tooth out of engagement with said worm so as to permit sliding movement of said bracket and motor unit along said guides independently of rotation of said worm, a shaft rotatable with said drum, manually operable feed means associated with said shaft for rotating said shaft and drum at a relatively slow rate, means for disconnecting said feed means from said shaft, and a hand wheel connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft and drum independently of said feed means and at a rate materially higher than that permitted by the feed means associated therewith.

4. A router according to claim 3 wherein said motor unit is slidably mounted on said bracket for vertical movement relative thereto, and including a vertically arranged threaded member secured thereto and extending freely through said bracket, said threaded member upon rotation thereof providing for vertical adjustment of said motor unit relative to said drum, and a manually operable lever cooperable with said threaded member for moving said motor unit vertically relative to said drum independently of relation of said threaded member.

ROBERT E. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 143,626 Huntington Oct. 14, 1873 327,856 Blake Oct. 6, 1885 544,010 Spalckhaver Aug. 6, 1895 622,832 Wesel Apr. 11, 1899 964,752 Cartwright July 19, 1910 1,882,586 Haynes Oct. 11, 1932 1,983,438 Cushman Dec. 4, 1934 2,280,481 Cushman Apr. 21, 1942 2,322,129 Hawkins June 15, 1943 2,343,875 Schwartz Mar. 14, 1944 

